Is it even possible to keep cooling costs down without becoming unbearably uncomfortable?
An energy efficient light bulb creates less heat than a traditional light bulb and will pay for itself in energy savings over 6 months.
Summer approaches. And with global warming heating us all up and the economic recession in full tilt as well, it’s more important than ever to figure out how to avoid overheating without overspending.
Who is most at risk?
High cooling costs and strapped pocketbooks can make for a deadly cocktail. Heat waves kill thousands every year in western industrialized nations. The most vulnerable segments of society (the elderly, infirm, and indigent) are also among the most at-risk for overheating.
This year, to save cash, many may be tempted to cut way down on their air-conditioning and electricity usage. While doing so might make good fiscal sense, remember that money isn’t everything. To that end, never endanger yourself or your family for the sake of shaving a few dollars off your monthly bills.
With that said, it is possible both to keep cool and keep solvent. Here are some battle-proven tips:
Get your AC inspected
One visit from a technician can make your AC run far more efficiently, so you get the best bang for your cooling buck. Sure, it can cost $50 to $75 (or more) to bring a technician out, but the money you’ll likely save over the long term as a result of having more efficient AC will likely make up the difference. (Plus, in some cases, your landlord may be legally obligated to foot the repair bill for you.)
Minimize Switching On and Switching Off Electronics
- Turn off lights when you leave rooms.
- Shut down computers when you leave for errands or turn in for the night.
- Install night lights in your hallways, so you don’t have to flick on larger lights if/when you get up in the middle of the night.
- Replace incandescent bulbs with energy efficient bulbs (the coiled curly-q kind)
- Unplug equipment when not in use.
- Run washer, dryer, and dishwasher on energy-conserve settings.
Optimize your use of AC
Not every room in the house needs to be kept at a super cool temperature, even when you are home. If you spend most of your time in the living room, bedroom, and bathroom, for instance; why keep your guest room and closets cool, too? Isolate areas that need AC most to maintain a comfortably cool environment and save on energy costs.
Push Your Tolerance Point for Heat by Habituating Yourself in Steps
Obviously, if you are sick or elderly, you need to take great care in exposing yourself to uncomfortable or dangerous heat conditions. But most healthy people can habituate themselves to living in hotter and more humid conditions. The key is to do this in steps.
If you’re used to walking around in an AC cooled apartment that’s kept at 71 degrees all day, you can’t suddenly blast the temperature up to 79 degrees without experiencing major discomfort. To avoid this problem, wean yourself off AC by adjusting the thermostat up one or two degrees a week. You will hardly notice the difference; and you’ll save tremendous money, particularly as you get into the Dog Days of August. (NOTE: the opposite trick works well in Winter. Habituate yourself to slightly colder temperatures to save on heating costs towards the middle and end of the season.)
Substitute Fans for AC When Possible – And If the Energy Costs Work Out
Many websites and energy efficiency experts will tell you to favor ceiling and standing fans over AC in all circumstances. But while it’s true that fans in general provide a better “cool to cost” ratio, this advice oversimplifies. Some ceiling fans suck up a ton of juice. Conversely, some AC units boast extreme efficiency. Don’t rely on arbitrary rules of thumb to get your energy costs down; look at the numbers and experiment. And when you buy/install equipment, look for energy saving features, which can often “pay for themselves” in savings over years of use.
Improve the Thermal Efficiency of Your Home or Apartment
- Use window shades or blinds to block out the sun, so solar energy isn’t constantly beating down through your window.
- When the AC is on, keep windows and doors closed.
- Remedy drafts and inefficiencies by caulking gaps in windows and floorboards.
Small “efficiency touches” like this may not save you vast amounts of money: an hour’s labor may only yield a saving of 75 cents or so per month. But if you plan on living in your house for decades, saving a buck or two a day can add up to hundreds of dollars over a lifetime of use. In other words, you get spectacular returns on your time investment, even if it takes years to see those returns
Find Other Ways to Keep Cool
Most people don’t walk around their apartments in mid summer dressed in cardigans and snow pants. However, people do wear long sleeve shirts, pants, heavy dresses, and the like.
- Buy “appropriate for the season” clothes.
- Invest in Japanese hand fans.
- Go swimming or playing in the sprinkler.
- Keep an ice cold picture of lemonade stashed in the fridge at all times.
- If you overheat, swab your forehead, arms and chest with a cold washcloth.
Get Outside
Get sun and activity, in moderation. People who get at least 30 minutes of exposure to sunlight a day experience a salutary shift in their serotonin and melatonin balance. Exercise can fine tune your perspiration system. It can also reduce stress and anxiety. Finally, by habituating your body to outdoor temperatures, you will find that you require less inside temperature modifications.